Trump declares war on voting machines and mail-in ballots, says states ‘must do what the Federal Government tells them’

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will lead a campaign to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines from American elections. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, saying he plans to sign an executive order before the 2026 midterm elections to bring what he calls “honesty” to the voting process.

Trump claimed that mail-in voting and electronic voting machines are tools that Democrats use to cheat in elections. According to Express, he said the United States is “the only country in the world that uses mail-in voting” and that other nations stopped using it because of fraud problems. However, election security experts say there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in recent American elections.

The president’s announcement includes a statement that reflects his view of federal authority over elections. In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote that “the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do.” This statement challenges the traditional understanding that states have primary responsibility for running elections under the Constitution. The comment echoes Trump’s pattern of claiming sweeping executive powers that many legal experts say exceed presidential authority.

Trump already signed voting restrictions order in March

Trump has already taken action on election rules through an executive order he signed in March 2025. That order, called “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” requires voters to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote and aims to force states to stop counting mail ballots that arrive after Election Day.

The March order also tells the Election Assistance Commission to change voting machine standards and remove approval for machines currently used in 39 states. However, election experts say no voting machines currently exist that meet the new standards Trump wants. This could force states to spend billions of dollars on new equipment or rely on hand-counting ballots, which experts say is slower and more prone to errors.

Legal challenges have already been filed against the March executive order. Nineteen states are suing the federal government, arguing that the president does not have the authority to change election rules. A federal court has temporarily blocked parts of the order that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Election law experts say the Constitution gives states and Congress, not the president, the power to set election rules. The ongoing legal battles reflect Trump’s pattern of attempting to weaponize federal agencies for political purposes.